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The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 26

(26)
psyllis,
October 13, 2015 4:33 AM

If Simpsons weren't Jewish

If this show wasn't written or owned by Jews it would have been banned as being anti-sematic.

(25)
Anonymous,
February 10, 2015 11:25 AM

Tow quote Krusty's Rabbi Father....

Eh.

(24)
Zachary,
April 27, 2012 9:02 PM

If you can't enjoy it, you have a lack of humor

A fantastic episode. It's great when we can laugh at the stereotypes of ourselves and others. Just as there is a difference between a white and red lie, there is also a difference in laughing at stereotype and bigotry. The Irish love their booze, the italians are metrosexual or dumb mobsters, the french are pompus, the brits have bad teeth, african americans must always be cool, these are silly stereotypes. When done with a wink and a nod it is fantastic. I am reminded of the Family Guy episode where a young woman with down syndrome played a like-part and people were offended. The young woman was annoyed so many were offended on her behalf when she found the episode funny and not at all offensive (because again, it was done in an absurd mediaum and with a a wink and a nod).
Conclusion: Again, a great episode. We should lighten up.

(23)
Anonymous,
August 8, 2011 5:55 PM

best simpsons show ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(22)
Anonymous,
June 10, 2010 7:41 PM

from the goyim...

Of course the Wall isn't that low, and of course Homer isn't a good role model...that's the point, it's supposed to be absurd! That's why it hilarious!!!

(21)
sahar,
May 26, 2010 1:08 PM

I am an Israeli

the accent was really good but everything else was a bit offensive and the western wall isn't that low

(20)
Anonymous,
May 26, 2010 1:02 PM

hhhhhh

hhhhh I am an Israelian and that was very funny hhh but the Western Wall is not really that low
הסימפסונים שולטים

(19)
avigayil,
May 8, 2010 7:47 PM

not that funny

The Simpsons set a horrible example when it comes to parenting...I mean, who can watch Bart being choked by his father and not cringe? As the for the Israeli tour guide...that was pretty funny.

(18)
martin,
May 8, 2010 3:18 AM

That was my cab driver.

Fortunately most people in Israel i met were nice, but that tour guide was modeled after my cabdriver from the airport.

(17)
Dvirah,
May 6, 2010 1:39 PM

Don't Like

I don't like the kind of brash and insensitive Israeli depicted by the Tour Guide in this clip, and unfortunately the type is all too common here. I've never liked the Simpsons' on the few occasions I've watched them and in this clip especially I found the focus highly negative. However, nothing in the clip can be classified as antisemitic. Incidently, how many non-Jews would understand the references to Massadah, etc? At least the scriptwriters did their homework!

(16)
Awesome!,
April 28, 2010 5:12 PM

Super funny!

I can watch this clip 5 times in a row and find it funny every time! I am proud of how Israel is depicted here - there is nothing inherently bad or offensive here and some of my fellow commentators REALLY need to lighten up! Besides, I know Israeli people who speak *exactly* the way the tour guide does - it's hilarious!

(15)
Laura,
April 28, 2010 2:30 PM

BRILL

If it makes you smile - why not...

(14)
Anonymous,
April 27, 2010 5:54 PM

Fantastic! (from a viewer living in Israel)

This was awesome. Sure, I would have omitted a word here or there- but I wasn't assigned that job. Stop taking yourselves so seriously, folks. Crying "antisemitism" at every turn is also bad press for the Jewish people. Set a better example by lightening up, whining less, and choosing your battles more wisely (such as the "real" issues we Jews need to deal with out there).

(13)
Yitzchak,
April 26, 2010 8:04 PM

Very funny

As my brother used to say: "no sense of humor, no sense."

(12)
Matityahu,
April 24, 2010 8:11 PM

Chill out!

People need to understand that the Simpsons show makes fun of EVERYONE "satirelessly" (is there such a word?). Therefore, I vote NOT to accuse the show of "antisemitismic" (another new word?) presentation. Only Jews know what shmuck means, but this one doesn't. If anyone wants to let me know, email me at mattityahu at yahoo dot com. I agree that the show probably shouldn't be on Aish due to the naitivity of the Jewish world with regard to television and insensitivity of people who take everything seriously. On the other hand, perhap we Israelis should cry out against anything which is against Israel since the world is bent against us as it has always been.

(11)
Anonymous,
April 24, 2010 4:23 PM

The Simpsons tour Israel

I thought this was extremely offensive.

(10)
Anonymous,
April 23, 2010 8:21 PM

Lighten Up

I find #8's comments to be the best. When I watched the show I was expecting some pretty insulting things, which to my surprise was not there. Yes, it skated the line some times, but if we can't make fun of ourselves or be ok with some making fun of us once in a while we will never survive. The clip was hilarious and actually made me miss Israel.

(9)
Anonymous,
April 22, 2010 6:01 PM

Running the Race

On the screen before it starts, it says "questionable broadcasting." Gives us a clue there will be some content of this that is questionable. The torch has been given to #6. Your knowledge of being able to know the bashing of this broadcast, is beyond the most of us. Use it! You have the torch, run the race, until it is time to pass the torch to the next team player. We will win this race!

(8)
Anonymous,
April 22, 2010 4:21 PM

Cartoon: Laughs or Anger?

I never watch the simpsons, however when I was watching Israel news they showed a clip of the show a few weeks ago, a different one than this one. The one they showed was really funny, and I thought only the Jewish People could really laugh about that with their sense of humor. I respect the other comments and I read them before watching this clip. I respect them and what you saw and heard in this clip that upset you. However, I saw no pun attended by this, not on purpose. In light of all the other countries the simpsons has visited, the news highlighted they felt honored the simpsons finally visited Israel. They weren't left out of the jokes. If this wasn't a cartoon, it wouldn't have any humor at all, and what all have said, so true. In light of being a cartoon, the writer's had no attention of making light of any real issues. There is a group in Israel that is using laughter to bring people together, even over tough issues, it helps relieve the heavy load sometimes. I am also pleased those who did not like it, that you are speaking up about it, that also is important!

(7)
elixelx,
April 21, 2010 9:41 PM

As funny as...

...a heart attack! For shame, folks! This cannot possibly have been created by a Jew except his name be Jon Stewart or Bill Maher!
Double Shame on You!

(6)
Anonymous,
April 21, 2010 3:09 AM

Had I not lived there I wouldn't have believed it.

Yes 'if you don't haggle people won't respect you'. Peace negotiations therefore with arabs are endless. The people who coined this phrase fail to judge that their adversaries are not people. This sets up everyone as kosher thieves always wanting the bigger better deal. Why be truthful when guile pays off handsomely,weather In politics, buisness & marriage. The constant flow of insults made me uneasy. How close to life was that? They could not poke fun at kvitlach in the wailing wall had empty prayers not previously been placed by Jews. The mashgiach at my yeshiva once disclosed a prayer requesting the eternals help that the baytar soccer team be victorous over tel aviv soccer team. That sort of cheapens the urgentcy of the person praying for health of child who needs transplant, or God forbid cancer. If Jews carry on uneffected by Gods presence, what chance of spillover to other cultures can we expect. Its hard to be "ohr lagoyim" a light unto the nations if we barely illuminate one another. Protectzia, the tour guide probably did get kickbacks [backshish in hebrew=bribe]. We give a handshake of five fingers as a symbolic show of trust. Giving a sixth or having an extra finger taken from you is the origin of a rip off. Recently it was revealed that the holyland development was 1200% over what was authorized. Guess that was a double backshish. One of the ten sephirot is called "Hod" Majesty. Homer being the dufuss that he is always manages to embaress his wife,children& friends. Its no wonder his catch word is Hod spelled backwards. "Do'h "makes him the antithesis of his children asperations for what they'd like to look up to and see in their father.
Does anyone think it odd that such an episode should surface before independence day?Many a serious thought is expressed in humor.

It DEMONIZES Israelis and fits in nicely with all the anti-Israeli and Anti-Jewish attacks all over the world

(4)
Anonymous,
April 20, 2010 4:40 PM

Very funny except the line ''The Sh@%#& who wrote new testament"",since there is no need to use foul language or offend other religions in order to be funny. I am sure the founder of Aish would never have approved such a line.

(3)
Eashtov,
April 20, 2010 2:20 PM

Not Funny

Shalom All,
In the video, the use of the word "goyim" as well as the gratuitously insulting description of the writers of the New Testament are not funny. In fact, for a website that preaches traditional Judaism to post this as being funny is nothing less than an indication Hillel's "one foot Judaism." sadly has been forgotten in here. And that too is not funny.
Wholensss to all of us,
Biv'racha,
Jordan

I've been striving to get more into spirituality. But it seems that every time I make some progress, I find myself slipping right back to where I started. I'm getting discouraged and feel like a failure. Can you help?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Spiritual slumps are a natural part of spiritual growth. There is a cycle that people go through when at times they feel closer to God and at times more distant. In the words of the Kabbalists, it is "two steps forward and one step back." So although you feel you are slipping, know that this is a natural process. The main thing is to look at your overall progress (over months or years) and be able to see how far you've come!

This is actually God's ingenious way of motivating us further. The sages compare this to teaching a baby how to walk. When the parent is holding on, the baby shrieks with delight and is under the illusion that he knows how to walk. Yet suddenly, when the parent lets go, the child panics, wobbles and may even fall.

At such times when we feel spiritually "down," that is often because God is letting go, giving us the great gift of independence. In some ways, these are the times when we can actually grow the most. For if we can move ourselves just a little bit forward, we truly acquire a level of sanctity that is ours forever.

Here is a practical tool to help pull you out of the doldrums. The Sefer HaChinuch speaks about a great principle in spiritual growth: "The external awakens the internal." This means that although we may not experience immediate feelings of closeness to God, eventually, by continuing to conduct ourselves in such a manner, this physical behavior will have an impact on our spiritual selves and will help us succeed. (A similar idea is discussed by psychologists who say: "Smile and you will feel happy.")

That is the power of Torah commandments. Even if we may not feel like giving charity or praying at this particular moment, by having a "mitzvah" obligation to do so, we are in a framework to become inspired. At that point we can infuse that act of charity or prayer with all the meaning and lift it can provide. But if we'd wait until being inspired, we might be waiting a very long time.

May the Almighty bless you with the clarity to see your progress, and may you do so with joy.

In 1940, a boatload 1,600 Jewish immigrants fleeing Hitler's ovens was denied entry into the port of Haifa; the British deported them to the island of Mauritius. At the time, the British had acceded to Arab demands and restricted Jewish immigration into Palestine. The urgent plight of European Jewry generated an "illegal" immigration movement, but the British were vigilant in denying entry. Some ships, such as the Struma, sunk and their hundreds of passengers killed.

If you seize too much, you are left with nothing. If you take less, you may retain it (Rosh Hashanah 4b).

Sometimes our appetites are insatiable; more accurately, we act as though they were insatiable. The Midrash states that a person may never be satisfied. "If he has one hundred, he wants two hundred. If he gets two hundred, he wants four hundred" (Koheles Rabbah 1:34). How often have we seen people whose insatiable desire for material wealth resulted in their losing everything, much like the gambler whose constant urge to win results in total loss.

People's bodies are finite, and their actual needs are limited. The endless pursuit for more wealth than they can use is nothing more than an elusive belief that they can live forever (Psalms 49:10).

The one part of us which is indeed infinite is our neshamah (soul), which, being of Divine origin, can crave and achieve infinity and eternity, and such craving is characteristic of spiritual growth.

How strange that we tend to give the body much more than it can possibly handle, and the neshamah so much less than it needs!